The Beauty of Aurora

Aurora (stylized all in caps) is a Norwegian singer who gained recognition as soon as she released her debut project, the EP Running with the Wolves.

So many elements make her a noteworthy artist and an outstanding figure in pop music: her authenticity, her voice which has been often qualified as ethereal, her sonic exploration between pop, folk and electro, or her unique storytelling which transports us to a unique realm while making us look deep within our hearts.

A HEALING MUSIC

Aurora’s poetic writing gives voice to human experiences such as mental health struggles, the ups and downs of relationships, and more generally love, shame, guilt, or our connection to Mother Nature.

Interconnectedness between humans and all things surrounding them is a recurring theme, giving a spiritual undertone to her music. And her fans widely appreciate that side of her art, no matter if they believe in the metaphysical or not.

Because despite all the pain, Aurora keeps on believing in the most magical things humans have: the power of love and freedom.

AN ODE TO FREEDOM AND LOVE

In the Aurorian universe, freedom is the alpha and the omega, the highest goal but also the starting point. It’s the freedom to love how we want and who we want, the freedom to live in sync to the rhythm and the sounds of nature, the freedom to let our creativity follow its spontaneous flow.

It’s only when we finally break free from the chains imposed by society and traditions that we can live and create in a place of love.

“Queendom” (Infections Of A Different Kind - Step 1, 2018) is the perfect illustration of her dreamt world of which she would be the patroness. It’s a realm where every oppressed would be protected and free to exist, but also where we would be one with nature. And she had succeeded in creating this safe, loving and beautiful space for her fans.

With these values in mind, it’s no surprise that Aurora is using her platform to raise awareness about environmental and societal issues, like climate change, LGBTQ rights or Palestine.

AN ETHEREAL VOICE

One adjective has come up countless times when describing Aurora’s voice: ethereal. Her high-pitch voice is distinctive, soothing and enchanting all the people who listen to it.

What’s even more fascinating is the range of her vocal capabilities. Indeed, she uses both her head and chest voice, depending on whether she wants to reach higher and lower notes. Her voice can also be breathy or belting. Aurora uses this wide array of skills in her vocal lines, which allows her to create shifts in her melodies and to convey the different nuances of her emotions.

AN EXPLORATION OF GENRES

The agility of Aurora’s voice prevents her from sticking to one genre of sounds. Although her music is described as alternating between electro pop and folk, her curiosity makes her tread on different grounds. For instance, the second-half of “Starvation” (What Happened To The Heart, 2024) surprisingly turns into techno music.

Her collaboration with Bring Me The Horizon (on Post Human: Nex Gen, 2024) also proved how well her voice compliments heavier metal sounds. And it seems like an album along those lines might come sooner than later!

"A long, long time ago, Eve took a bite of a forbidden apple hanging from the tree of evil and good. In her act of doing so, she granted humans free will; I just think that is very beautiful, and I wanted to honour her and women like her, who little by little granted us freedom in this world. A freedom to live as we please, to explore and taste."

Source: NME, “Listen to Aurora’s dreamy new song ‘Heathens’"